Heater assembly for use in clothes dryers

Abstract

A heater assembly (10) is for installation in a clothes dryer (D). The assembly includes at least one open coil heating element (12), and a plurality of insulators (16) to each of which a convolution of the coil is attachable. The insulators are mounted on a support (22) in a spaced relation from each other. The support is attachable to a multi-sided pan structure (30). The pan has sidewalls (32A, 32B) to which the support is attachable for installing the coil in the pan. The pan has a lip (54) which extends beneath one end (54) of a heating unit (U) section (S2). The pan is directly attachable to the unit and the unit directly installable in the dryer. The heater assembly is also formed to help install the unit in the appliance during its manufacture.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. In a heating unit for installation in a clothes dryer, the heating unit having a closed end and an open end and a first section extending the length of the unit and a second and mating section extending a portion of the length thereof, a heater assembly at least partially defining the open end portion of the heating unit and connectable to the end of the second section to complete the heating unit, the heater assembly including; at least one open coil heating element;   a plurality of insulators to each of which at least one convolution of the coil is attached;   support means on which the insulators are mounted in a spaced relation from each other, the insulators and support means together forming an insulator assembly; and,   pan means to which the insulator assembly is attached, the pan means includes an open ended pan having sidewalls to which the insulator assembly is attached, and the pan means further being attached to the heating unit to complete the heating unit when so attached, the second section of the heating unit having an edge portion formed at its end adjacent the heater assembly, and the pan having a lip formed at its end adjacent the second section which fits under the edge to attache the heater assembly to the unit.   
     
     
       2. The heater assembly of claim 1 wherein the first section has a circumferential flange extending therearound and the sidewalls of the pan have outwardly turned flanges which abut the flange of the first section when the heater assembly. 
     
     
       3. The heater assembly of claim 2 further including means for connecting the respective flanges together. 
     
     
       4. The heater assembly of claim 1 wherein the dryer has a support for supporting the unit when it is installed, the support being contoured, and the heater assembly has a mating contour to provide an appropriate fit with the support. 
     
     
       5. The heater assembly of claim 4 wherein the support has indentations formed therein, and the pan has a plurality of protruberances matingly fitting in the indentations. 
     
     
       6. In a heating unit for installation in a clothes dryer, one end of the heating unit being a closed end and the other end is open, the heating unit having a first section extending the length of the unit and a second and mating section extending a portion of the length thereof, the improvement comprising a heater assembly connected to the end of the second section to complete the heating unit, the heater assembly comprising an open coil heating element, a plurality of insulators to each of which a convolution of the coil is attached, a support on which the insulators are mounted in a spaced relation from each other, the insulators and support means together forming an insulator assembly, and a pan attached to the second section of the heating unit to complete the unit, the pan being an open ended pan which, when attached to said second section, completes the open end of the unit, the insulator assembly being carried by said pan. 
     
     
       7. The improvement of claim 6 wherein the second section has an edge portion formed at its end adjacent the heater assembly, and the pan has a lip formed at its end adjacent the second section which fits under the edge to attach the heater assembly to the unit. 
     
     
       8. The improvement of claim 7 wherein the first section has a circumferential flange extending therearound and the pan has sidewalls with outwardly turned flanges which abut the flange of the first section when the heater assembly. 
     
     
       9. The improvement of claim 7 further including means for connecting the respective flanges together. 
     
     
       10. The improvement of claim 8 wherein the insulator assembly is attached to the sidewalls of the pan.